Tallinn, Estonia

The ancient walled city of Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, with its many turrets and cobbled streets, is reminiscent of a scene from a fairytale and makes an original and unforgettable honeymoon destination. It is especially romantic in the winter when the buildings are topped with snow and the Baltic is covered in thick ice.

Although the Marina is ready for regeneration and has a few big chain hotels nearby, the obvious place to stay is either in the old town, a small cobbled area with narrow lanes and almost no cars, or below the city walls and moats in the larger hotels, all of them just 5-10 minutes walk from the old town. For us the choice was simple; The Telegraaf Hotel is just meters from the main market square, boasts an award winning restaurant and is the only hotel within the old town with a spa. The other obvious choices for a romantic stay, The Schlossle and The Swissotel are both nearby and you would not be disappointed, but I couldn’t fault The Telegraaf in facilities, comfort or service and it deserves every one of its 5 stars.

There are an interesting array of museums, including one where you can experience blindness, but we preferred to spend our time exploring on foot and there was plenty to keep you occupied.Don’t miss a visit to Josephine, a delightful chocolate house 20 yards from the Hotel Telegraaf where you can buy the most divine hand made truffles and cakes, and where couples linger for hours over hot chocolate made with melted chocolate and hot frothy milk. For those who have had too much romance for one weekend, in the main square you will find The Garlic Restaurant, where every dish features garlic, including the intriguing garlic ice cream.

Food lovers beware; Tallinn competes with France when it comes to culinary excellence and we discovered one excellent restaurant after another.

The choice is diverse, from the Asian “Chedi” restaurant, the Italian “Bocca” to a traditional Medieval Estonian restaurant serving delights such a meat soup washed down with mead or dark herb infused beers. However there is a strong Russian influence to the local cuisine and we would particularly recommend The Tchaikovsky for its Russian/French dishes which included the most delectable blini with caviar, and Restaurant O where traditional Estonian dishes such as venison, beef tartare and rabbit-pear strudel are prepared in a modern way and in a very modern setting.